"AEGA (DAUGHTER OF THE SUN)" WAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL PRE-HELLENIC GODDESS FROM THE REGION THAT LATER BECAME GREECE. SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF "GAIA," THE EARTH, AND "HELIOS", THE SUN. HER SISTERS ARE "CIRCE "AND "PASIPHAE, "AND TOGETHER THEY FORM A MANIFESTATION OF THE TRIPLE GODDESS. SHE WAS SAID TO BE VERY BEAUTIFUL AND OF SUCH DAZZLING BRIGHTNESS THAT THE TITANS, IN THEIR ATTACK ON MOUNT OLYMPUS, BECAME FRIGHTENED AND ASKED "GAIA "TO CONCEAL HER ON THE EARTH; HENCEFORTH, SHE CONFINED IN A CAVE IN GREECE.

HER NAME MEANS "GUST OF WIND", OR "GOAT", AND IN SOME TALES, SHE ACTUALLY TAKES THE FORM OF A GOAT, AND IT WAS IN THE FORM OF THE GOAT THAT SHE BECAME THE NURSE OF "ZEUS". DURING THE FIGHT WITH THE TITANS, "ZEUS" WAS COMMANDED BY AN ORACLE TO COVER HIMSELF WITH HER SKIN "(AEGIS). "HE OBEYED THE COMMAND AND RAISED "AEGA" AMONG THE STARS. IT IS CLEAR THAT IN SOME OF THESE STORIES "AEGIA "IS REGARDED AS A NYMPH, AND IN OTHERS AS A GOAT, THOUGH THE TWO IDEAS ARE NOT KEPT CLEARLY DISTINCT FROM EACH OTHER.

SHE IS ALSO A GODDESS OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. BY THE TIME ZEUS TOOK OVER AS KING OF HEAVEN, HE HAD A SACRED SHIELD WHICH WAS MADE OF HER SKIN. THE AEGIS WAS A SYMBOL OF GREAT POWER AND WAS FORMERLY WORN BY PRIESTESSES OF THE GODDESS" ATHENA, "BEFORE "ZEUS "TOOK POSSESSION OF IT. SHE ALSO APPEARED AS A CONCEALING STORM CLOUD THAT SURROUNDED "ZEUS'S" FAMOUS THUNDERBOLT. LATER SHE WAS PLACED IN THE SKY AS THE STAR "CAPELLA," THE LITTLE SHE GOAT.